This position is offered by PDL, a subsidiary of Vulcain Engineering Group. 

At PDL Solutions, we are a specialist engineering consultancy providing advanced technical services across industries including energy, defence, marine, and beyond. Our teams apply expertise in areas such as fluid dynamics, structural analysis, pipe stress, and digital engineering to help clients design, optimise, and maintain complex systems.  

As part of the Vulcain Engineering Group, we combine niche expertise with the resources and reach of a global organisation, giving our people opportunities to grow, collaborate, and make an impact on major projects worldwide. Our brilliant engineers and industry-renowned processes deliver quality and consistency. 

The Position:  

We are seeking an innovative Senior or Principal CFD Engineer to join our Hexham-based team. You’ll take ownership of challenging simulation projects across a range of industries, managing technical scope, client relationships, and project delivery, while still staying hands-on with the most complex CFD work. This is an opportunity to influence how we grow our capability, shape the standards of our work, and be part of a team investing in the latest digital simulation tools and approaches. 

As a Senior or Principal CFD Engineer, some of your responsibilities will include: 

• Deliver high-quality CFD projects including work scope planning, project costing and technical sign-off (reports and presentations). 
• Develop, verify, and optimise multi-physics CFD models for a wide range of engineering applications (e.g. thermal, multiphase, mixing). 
• Interpret results and provide clear CFD solutions based on client requirements. 
• Manage and balance multiple projects and resources. 
• Act as a point of contact for clients and maintain strong relationships. 
• Provide technical guidance to less experienced engineers to support delivery and knowledge sharing. 
• Contribute to the development of CFD best practices and standards, driving innovation and identifying opportunities for process improvement and automation.  

This role can be appointed at Senior Engineer level (for those with the capability and confidence to progress towards Principal), or directly at Principal level for those already operating at that standard. 

For this position, we’re looking for individuals who can bring the following: 

• Degree (BEng/MEng/PhD) in Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical Engineering, or a related field. 
• Strong CFD expertise, with proven experience developing and delivering complex simulations. 
• Proficiency with industry-standard CFD software (e.g. ANSYS Fluent, CFX, Star-CCM+, OpenFOAM). 
• Solid understanding of fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, heat transfer  and CFD theory. 
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to manage client-facing projects. 
• Ability to guide and support junior engineers. 
• Prior experience in an engineering consultancy role would be advantageous, along with proficiency in scripting/automation (Python/MATLAB/C). 
• Must be UK-based with unlimited right to work, due to the level of security clearance required for our projects. 

Why Join Us? 

At PDL, you’ll work on a wide variety of projects; from water systems and HVAC assessments, to mixing solutions and reactor tanks - while helping shape how we use digital simulation, automation, and cutting-edge analysis techniques.   

With investments in the latest tools and powerful hardware, a compressed 9/80 schedule (every other Friday off), and hybrid working, this role offers both challenge and balance. As part of a collaborative, open culture and the wider Vulcain Engineering Group, you’ll have the chance to grow your expertise, influence the future of our CFD capability, and make an impact on major projects worldwide.  

Benefits Package  

• Contributory Pension Scheme 
• Enhanced Sickness Pay 
• 20 days holiday + all of the English bank holidays + Christmas shutdown 
• Option to take 5 days unpaid leave 
• Sabbatical scheme 
• Company performance bonus 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Electric Car Scheme 
• Training & Development 
• Employee referral scheme 
• Employee assistance program  

We appreciate every application. However, due to the volume we receive, we’re only able to contact candidates who are shortlisted for this role or who may be a strong fit for future opportunities.